All eyes are on Berea, Ohio, where the Cleveland Browns are conducting training camp and have the NFL’s most-hyped job battle.

The Browns took Johnny Manziel in the first round to become their franchise quarterback, but first he must unseat returning starter Brian Hoyer.

Johnny Football has been making more news off the field and in the twitterverse, where pictures keep surfacing of his partying exploits. The most troubling photo was one of Manziel in a nightclub bathroom tightly rolling money, leading many to speculate there would be cocaine involved.

The Browns have told Manziel to tone it down, but the focus now has returned to the football field where things aren’t going so well for Johnny Football either.

Reports coming out of camp have Hoyer comfortably in front as Manziel has struggled with basic stuff like taking the ball under center, executing straight drop-backs and executing play action. It’s still early in camp, though, and Manziel soon will get to show off his strengths in read-option and quarterback keeper concepts.

Cleveland opens its preseason schedule Aug. 9 at Detroit, and we will be able to see for ourselves how the competition is going. Browns coach Mike Pettine has said he would like to make a decision on the starter before the third preseason game, which doesn’t leave Manziel much time to make up ground.

For fantasy purposes, this battle is very important on two fronts: Manziel has the much higher ceiling and could be a difference-maker, and who the starter is will greatly influence the effectiveness of the Browns’ other offensive weapons.

In their two full games together, Hoyer and tight end Jordan Cameron hooked up for four touchdowns and 16 catches. Cameron was not nearly as productive the rest of the season with Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden under center. Of course, Josh Gordon had returned from a two-game suspension to become the focus of the offense and the embattled wide receiver is expected to be suspended for the season for another positive drug test.

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The Browns will have a plethora of new faces at running back (Ben Tate and rookie Terrance West) and wide receiver (Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin and Nate Burleson), so it will be interesting to see how they mesh with Manziel and Hoyer.

I’m expecting Hoyer to begin the season as the starter, but he will be on a short leash and could be replaced after a bye in Week 4. Even with all the hype, Manziel should last until the late rounds in fantasy drafts where he makes for a very interesting lottery ticket.

Other key position battles to watch:

Quarterback

Vikings >> Rookie Teddy Bridgewater is trying to overtake uninspiring veteran Matt Cassel. Bridgewater remains behind Cassel, but this battle may go deep into this month. I expect the Vikings to opt for the safe route with Cassel opening the season as starter and bring on Bridgewater as soon as he’s up to speed. Being that Bridgewater is more polished than Manziel, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him beat out Cassel. With emerging receiver Cordarrelle Patterson to throw to and Adrian Peterson to carry the load, Bridgewater could become a fantasy starter in two-quarterback leagues.

Running back

Raiders >> Maurice Jones-Drew was signed to offer competition to oft-injured incumbent Darren McFadden while Latavius Murray has been the talk of camp after missing last season with a foot injury. Jones-Drew and McFadden are coming off bad seasons, so the Raiders desperately are hoping making it an open competition reignites at least one of the former stars. Talk out of camp has had McFadden ahead while most fantasy analysts expect Jones-Drew to become the feature back. Injuries likely will play the biggest role, which means even Murray eventually could emerge this season. All three make for interesting middle-round flyers, while I have the most faith in Jones-Drew.

Giants >> Rashad Jennings was signed during the offseason after taking advantage of a McFadden injury to rush for a team-high 733 yards with the Raiders last season. The Giants also used a fourth-round draft pick to fortify the position with Andre Williams, who led major college football in rushing with 2,177 yards and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. David Wilson, who was supposed to be the feature back last year before a neck injury ruined his season, suffered a setback in camp after trying to return from neck fusion surgery. It was expected Jennings would emerge as the starter, Wilson as the home-run threat and Williams as the goal-line back. But with Wilson’s future in doubt, Williams has been the star of camp and is mounting a challenge. I expect Jennings to win out, but Williams and Wilson are worth drafting as high-ceiling handcuffs.

Wide receiver

Bills >> Sammy Watkins is expected to be the top receiver after being selected with the fourth overall pick in the draft, so the primary battle is for the complementary roles. Former USC standout Robert Woods finished his rookie season strong with eight catches, 152 yards and a touchdown in his final two games. Woods will battle for catches with free-agent signee Mike Williams and fellow second-year receiver Marquise Goodwin out of Texas. I expect Williams to start opposite Watkins, but Woods should see plenty of opportunities and has a chance to break out.

Panthers >> This is a completely revamped group after last year’s top three Carolina receivers (Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn) all left. First-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin is a huge target who should be a touchdown maker, but he’s also raw after having just one good season at Florida State. Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood are the other key additions, all veterans with just one 1,000-yard season between them. Cotchery had 1,130 receiving yards way back in 2007 with the Jets but had all but disappeared before re-emerging with 10 touchdown catches for the Steelers last season. Benjamin is the guy to target in drafts, but Cotchery and Avant make for good sleepers.

For preseason football positional rankings to help prepare for drafts, go to www.rotoace.com.